Sound processing method, sound processing system, video processing method, video processing system, sound processing device, and method and program for controlling same

ABSTRACT

A sound processing device according to the present invention includes: a time-frequency analysis means which generates a time-frequency plane from a sound signal through time-frequency analysis; a region characteristic amount extraction means which, for a plurality of partial region pairs which is defined on the time-frequency plane and of which at least either of shapes of two partial regions or positions of the two partial regions differ from one another, extracts a region characteristic amount from each partial region; and a sound identifier generation means which generates a sound identifier which identifies the sound by using the region characteristic amount from the each partial region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage Entry of International ApplicationNo. PCT/JP2012/068535, filed Jul. 13, 2012, which claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2011-155541, filed Jul, 14, 2011. Theentire contents of the above-referenced applications are expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a generation technology of anidentifier which identifies a characteristic of a sound and autilization technology for same. Here, the sound in this description isused as a concept including all sounds including a voice and acomposition (music).

BACKGROUND ART

In the technical field mentioned above, as a sound identifier whichidentifies the characteristic of the sound, an audio fingerprint (audioelectronic fingerprint) which is obtained by analyzing a sound signal isknown.

For example, a sound processing system in non-patent document 1 cuts outframes of 25 ms which overlap while shifting from a sampled sound signalfor 5-10 ms. And the sound processing system performs fast Fouriertransform (FFT: Fast Fourier Transform) processing, logarithm processingand discrete cosine transform (DCT: Discrete Cosine Transform)processing to the sound signal in the cuts out frames and generates melfrequency cepstrum. The sound processing system takes out 12th-16thdimensions which are lower dimensions of the mel frequency cepstrum as amel frequency cepstrum coefficient (MFCC: Mel Frequency CepstrumCoefficient) and generates an audio fingerprint from the timedifferences.

A sound processing system in non-patent document 2 cuts out frames of370 ms which overlap while shifting for 11.6 ms. And the soundprocessing system generates an audio fingerprint expressed in 32dimensions by discrete Fourier transform (DFT: Discrete FourierTransform), logarithm processing and time and frequency differences forsubband divided average power.

A sound processing system in non-patent document 3 cuts out frames of370 ms which overlap while shifting for 11.6 ms. And the soundprocessing system generates an audio fingerprint expressed in 32dimensions by discrete wavelet (Wavelet) transform, frequencydifferences and time differences.

Also, a sound processing system in patent document 1 cuts out frames of10-30 ms which overlap, and generates a time—frequency segment viaFourier transform, division by mel scale or Bark scale, and mean valuecalculation by using a window function. And after two-dimensional DCT(Discrete Cosine Transform) is performed, its lower band is output as avoice characteristic amount.

In the sound processing system in patent document 1, though, forexample, the voice characteristic amount of 112 elements is generated,considering processing speed when it is used, 30 elements in the lowerband are selected as the voice characteristic amount for voicerecognition or speaker recognition.

Also, a sound processing system in patent document 2 performs FFT toframes of 64 ms which overlap 50% and generates characteristic vectors,and for example, obtains a difference for a neighboring band pair ofband of M=13 and generates an audio fingerprint encoded on the basis ofthe difference result.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

[Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2003-044077

[Patent document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2007-065659

Non-Patent Document

[Non-patent document 1] P. Cano, E. Battle, T. Kalker, and J. Haitsma,“A review of algorithms for audio fingerprinting”, in InternationalWorkshop on Multimedia Signal Processing, December 2002.

[Non-patent document 2] Jaap Haitsma, Ton Klker, “A Highly Robust AudioFingerprinting System” Proc. ISMIR 2002 3rd International Conference onMusic Information Retrieval.

[Non-patent document 3] Yasushi Inoguchi and Vijay K. Jain, “Super speeddetection of an audio electronic fingerprint via the internet for propermusic circulation”, The Telecommunications Advancement Foundation,Research investigation report No. 24 2009, pp. 604-615.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, concerning the sound processing systems in the background artmentioned above, improving temporal accuracy and being robust againstmixing with other sounds are not yet enough, and also dimensions ofeither characteristic amount vector are limited to about 30 dimensionsfor real-time sound identification and matching of which computationalamount is reduced.

Therefore, real-time sound identification and matching which solved bothof a problem of reducing time length of a frame and improving temporalaccuracy and a problem of being robust against mixing with other soundsat one time could not be accomplished.

The object of the present invention is to provide a technology whichsolves the problems mentioned above.

Solution to Problem

A sound processing device according to the present invention includes: atime-frequency analysis means which generates a time-frequency planefrom a sound signal through time-frequency analysis; a regioncharacteristic amount extraction means which, for a plurality of partialregion pairs which is defined on the time-frequency plane and of whichat least either of shapes of two partial regions or positions of the twopartial regions differ from one another, extracts a regioncharacteristic amount from each partial region; and a sound identifiergeneration means which generates a sound identifier which identifies thesound by using the region characteristic amount from the each partialregion.

A sound processing system according to the present invention includes:the sound processing device described above and a sound matching devicewhich performs matching or identification of a sound by using the soundidentifier generated by the sound processing device.

A video processing system according to the present invention includes:the sound processing device described above which generates a soundidentifier from a sound signal included in a video signal and a videomatching device which performs matching or identification of a video byusing the sound identifier generated by the sound processing device.

A control method of a sound processing device according to the presentinvention includes: a time-frequency analysis step which generates atime-frequency plane from a sound signal through time-frequencyanalysis; a region characteristic amount extraction step which, for aplurality of partial region pairs which is defined on the time-frequencyplane and of which at least either of shapes of two partial regions orpositions of the two partial regions differ from one another, extracts aregion characteristic amount from each partial region; and a soundidentifier generation step which generates a sound identifier whichidentifies the sound by using the region characteristic amount from theeach partial region.

A control program of a sound processing device according to the presentinvention makes a computer execute: a time-frequency analysis step whichgenerates a time-frequency plane from a sound signal throughtime-frequency analysis; a region characteristic amount extraction stepwhich, for a plurality of partial region pairs which is defined on thegenerated time-frequency plane and of which at least either of shapes oftwo partial regions or positions of the two partial regions differ fromone another, extracts a region characteristic amount from each partialregion; and a sound identifier generation step which generates a soundidentifier which identifies the sound by using the region characteristicamount from the each partial region extracted by the regioncharacteristic amount extraction means.

A sound processing method according to the present invention is a soundprocessing method including: a sound processing step which generates asound identifier which identifies a sound on the basis of time-frequencyanalysis of a sound signal; and a sound matching step which performsmatching of the sound by using the generated sound identifier; whereinthe sound processing step includes: a time-frequency analysis step whichgenerates a time-frequency plane from the sound signal throughtime-frequency analysis; a region characteristic amount extraction stepwhich, for a plurality of partial region pairs which is defined on thegenerated time-frequency plane and of which at least either of shapes oftwo partial regions or positions of the two partial regions differ fromone another, extracts a region characteristic amount from each partialregion; and a sound identifier generation step which generates the soundidentifier which identifies the sound by using the region characteristicamount from the extracted each partial region.

A video processing method according to the present invention is a videoprocessing method including: a sound processing step which generates asound identifier from a sound signal included in a video signal; and avideo matching step which performs matching of a video by using thegenerated sound identifier; wherein the sound processing step includes:a time-frequency analysis step which generates a time-frequency planefrom the sound signal through time-frequency analysis; a regioncharacteristic amount extraction step which, for a plurality of partialregion pairs which is defined on the generated time-frequency plane andof which at least either of shapes of two partial regions or positionsof the two partial regions differ from one another, extracts a regioncharacteristic amount from each partial region; and a sound identifiergeneration step which generates a sound identifier which identifies thesound by using the region characteristic amount from the each partialregion extracted by the region characteristic amount extraction means.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, by solving both of the problem ofreducing time length of a frame and improving temporal accuracy and theproblem of being robust against mixing with other sounds, real-timesound identification and matching can be accomplished.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound processingdevice according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a figure showing a concept of sound processing according tothe second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device according to the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structure of a time-frequencyanalyzer according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of a region characteristicamount extractor according to the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6A is a figure showing a structure of an extraction region memoryunit according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6B is a figure showing a specific example of per dimensionextraction region information according to the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound identifiergenerator according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hardware structure of a soundprocessing device according to the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of a soundprocessing device according to the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10A is a block diagram showing another structure of atime-frequency analyzer according to the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10B is a block diagram showing yet another structure of atime-frequency analyzer according to the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10C is a block diagram showing yet another structure of atime-frequency analyzer according to the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a figure showing a concept of sound processing according tothe third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound identifiergenerator according to the third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound identifiergenerator according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of a soundprocessing device according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a structure of a regioncharacteristic amount extractor according to the fifth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a figure showing a structure of a region characteristicamount extraction method memory unit according to the fifth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of a soundprocessing device according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound identifiergenerator according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a figure showing a structure of a comparison/quantizationmethod memory unit according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of a soundprocessing device according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device according to the seventh exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a structure of a time-frequencyanalyzer according to the seventh exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25 is a figure showing a structure of a sound identifier generationmethod memory unit according to the seventh exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of a soundprocessing device according to the seventh exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound processingsystem according to the eighth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound processingsystem according to the ninth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a structure of a video processingsystem according to the tenth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a structure of a video processingsystem according to the eleventh exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a structure of a video processingsystem according to the twelfth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will beexplained exemplarily with reference to drawings. However, componentsdescribed in the following exemplary embodiments are justexemplification and are not intended to limit technological scopes ofthe present invention to only those.

[The First Exemplary Embodiment]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sound processing device 100 according tothe first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The sound processing device 100 is a device which generates a soundidentifier 104 a which identifies a sound on the basis of time-frequencyanalysis of a sound signal 101 a. As shown in FIG. 1, the soundprocessing device 100 includes a time-frequency analyzer 101, a regioncharacteristic amount extractor 103 and a sound identifier generator104.

The time-frequency analyzer 101 generates a time-frequency plane 102from the sound signal 101 a through time-frequency analysis. On thetime-frequency plane 102, a plurality of partial region pairs 102-1 and102-2 of which at least either of shapes of two partial regions orpositions of the two partial regions differ from one another is defined.

The region characteristic amount extractor 103 extracts, for a pluralityof the partial region pairs 102-1 and 102-2, region characteristicamounts 103 a and 103 b from the each partial region.

The sound identifier generator 104 generates the sound identifier 104 awhich identifies the sound by using the region characteristic amounts103 a and 103 b from the each partial region which the regioncharacteristic amount extractor 103 extracted.

The sound processing device of this exemplary embodiment can performreal-time sound identification which solves both of the problem ofreducing time length of a frame and improving temporal accuracy and theproblem of being robust against mixing with other sounds.

[The Second Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing device according to the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The sound processing device according to this exemplary embodimentextracts, on a time-frequency plane obtained from a sound signal throughtime-frequency analysis, a region characteristic amount of each partialregion of a partial region pair including two partial regions. And aresult of compared sizes of the region characteristic amounts isquantized.

For example, suppose quantization is of three values and dimensions are300 dimensions which are enough as precision of a sound identifier. 300dimensions are generated by changing combination of shapes and positionsof the partial regions in the partial region pair on the time-frequencyplane. In this case, they are expressed in 600 bits (=2 bits (threevalues)×300), and a sound identifier of 75 bytes is generated.

Additionally, the sound processing device in the second exemplaryembodiment generates successive series of time-frequency planes andgenerates a series of sound identifiers. As a result, further precisesound identifier is obtained.

According to this exemplary embodiment, memory capacity can be keptsmall due to little information and the sound identifier can begenerated in real time. Therefore, sound identification and soundmatching for which comparison processing of the sound identifiers isnecessary can be realized in real time.

<<Concept of Sound Processing>>

FIG. 2 is a figure showing a processing concept of a sound processingdevice 200 (FIG. 3) according to this exemplary embodiment.

Further, since various methods are known for generation of thetime-frequency plane, processing after the time-frequency planegeneration will be shown in FIG. 2.

First processing 210 of FIG. 2 shows a state in which a plurality oftime-frequency planes is generated by performing time-frequency analysisto the sound signal, and a plurality of partial region pairs isgenerated. Inside each of the time-frequency planes, the partial regionpair is defined.

Each partial region pair includes at least either one of a difference inpositional relationship including a difference in relative positionalrelationship between the partial regions or a difference in absolutepositions and a difference in shapes of the partial regions.

Second processing 230 of FIG. 2 shows a state in which a regioncharacteristic amount is extracted from each partial region. In sametime-frequency plane 220, relationship between the respective partialregions of the partial region pair and obtaining a difference betweenthe partial regions is expressed.

The way the two partial regions of the partial region pair are definedin the time-frequency plane 220, representative values or mean values ofpower spectrum included in the respective partial regions arecalculated, and their differences are calculated, is shown as arrowswhich connect centers of the each partial region.

Third processing 240 of FIG. 2 shows the way the calculated differenceis quantum coded.

In the third processing 240, when the difference which subtracted asecond region characteristic amount from a first region characteristicamount is difference “0” (corresponds to a case when the power spectraare equal), “0” is generated for an output value of the quantum coding.When the difference is a positive (+) value, “+1” is generated for theoutput value of the quantum coding. When the difference is a negative(−) value, “−1” is generated for the output value of the quantum coding.

The reason to code it into a quantized value of three values of “−1”,“0”, “+1” in this way is, by make it multidimensional as much aspossible, to make separation of the sound characteristic amount easier,and at the same time, to reduce amount of calculation for matching ofthe sound characteristic amounts.

Accordingly, this exemplary embodiment needs not be limited to theexample of three values mentioned above, and may also be a structure ofbinarization. In this way, a sound identifier element which becomes anelement of the sound identifier is generated. This sound identifierelement generation is repeated by a number of dimensions (number of thepartial region pairs).

240 a of FIG. 2 shows an example of the sound characteristic amountgenerated by putting together results of the quantum coding of thedifferences. The sound characteristic amount 240 a is, as an easyexample, data which placed values which are the differences beingquantum coded in order of dimension in a one-dimensional direction.

For example, in case of 300 dimensions, it is expressed in 600 bits (=2bits (three values)×300), and the sound identifier of 75 bytes isgenerated. Further, a volume identifier may not simply be data whichplaced values which are the differences being quantum coded in order ofdimension in a one-dimensional direction, but may also be one in whichthey are placed in a multidimensional direction or data to which furtheradditional operations are added, and is not limited to this example.

<<Functional Structure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of the soundprocessing device 200 according to this exemplary embodiment.

A time-frequency analyzer 310 analyzes an inputted sample sound signal301 a and outputs time-frequency data 310 a. The time-frequency data 310a is a power spectrum positioned on a plane of a time axis and afrequency axis.

Here, it is desirable that a sampling period of the sample sound signal301 a can be adjusted according to the inputted sound. For example, ifit is a voice reproduced from a CD (Compact Disk), it is desirable totake a sample with sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz. Also, if it is avoice reproduced from a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), it is desirable totake a sample with sampling frequency of 48 kHz.

As the sampling period becomes shorter, there is an advantage thatreproducibility of an instantaneous sound becomes better and a noisebecomes less, it is desirable to make the sampling frequency high. Thus,on the basis of characteristic of the inputted sound, for example,classification of a memory medium or characteristic of a reproductiondevice, appropriate sampling frequency (sampling period) is selected.

A time-frequency plane memory unit 320 arranges the time-frequency data310 a in which time and frequency are discretized on the time-frequencyplane by placing them in order of time on the time axis.

A region characteristic amount extractor 330 reads out per dimensionextraction region information 350 a which shows a partial region pair insequence according to a number of dimensions from a partial region pairwhich are memorized in an extraction region memory unit 350 and includestwo partial regions.

And the region characteristic amount extractor 330 reads out a powerspectrum 320 a in each partial region of the partial region pair fromthe time-frequency plane memory unit 320, performs a predeterminedoperation, extracts a first region characteristic amount 330 a from afirst partial region and extracts a second region characteristic amount330 b from a second partial region. As for the predetermined operationhere, it is chosen from such as an average, maximum value, a medianvalue and a mode value of the power spectrum in the partial region.

A sound identifier generator 340 performs quantization into three valueson the basis of size relationship through comparison of the first regioncharacteristic amount 330 a and the second region characteristic amount330 b, and generates a sound identifier 340 a by combining the resultfor a number of dimensions (corresponds to the number of the partialregion pairs).

(Time-Frequency Analyzer)

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structure of the time-frequencyanalyzer 310 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The time-frequency analyzer 310 includes a frame cut-out unit 401 and awavelet transform unit 402. The frame cut-out unit 401 cuts out a framehaving a predetermined time length from the sample sound signal 301 awhile shifting with a predetermined time. The frame cut-out unit 401memorizes a shift time 401 a and a frame time length 401 b used.

As for the shift time 401 a, about 10 ms which is often used in thistechnical field, in particular, 11.6 ms, is used. As for the shift timebetween the frames, a range of 5 ms-15 ms is desirable. Also, as for theframe time length 401 b, for example, about 30 ms is used. Further,there is no limit for the frame time length.

In this exemplary embodiment, as the frame time length, a range is made30 ms—several seconds. This frame time length is necessary in order notto decrease amount of information of all frequency regions. However,there is a case when delay of processing may occur due to the frame timelength and real-time processing may become difficult.

Therefore, in case the frame time length is long, it is possible not tomake the sampling period fixed, but, for example, to make the period ata start time short and to make sampling sparse appropriately so as theperiod becomes longer gradually. As a result, while maintainingreproducibility of an instantaneous sound around the start time,reproducibility of a low frequency can be improved.

The wavelet transform unit 402 performs wavelet transform to the samplesound signal in each frame. And the wavelet transform unit 402 outputsthe time-frequency data 310 a which is a power spectrum on thetime-frequency plane. By placing the time-frequency data 310 a on thetime axis, the time-frequency plane is generated.

Further, since the wavelet transform is well known as described as apart of the processing of non-patent document 3, it is not explained indetail here.

(Region Characteristic Amount Extractor)

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of the regioncharacteristic amount extractor 330 according to this exemplaryembodiment.

The region characteristic amount extractor 330 includes a dimensiondecision unit 501, an extraction region acquisition unit 502 and aregion characteristic amount extractor 503. The region characteristicamount extractor 503 includes a first region characteristic amountextractor 503A which extracts a characteristic amount of a firstextraction region of the partial region pair and a second regioncharacteristic amount extractor 503B which extracts a characteristicamount of a second extraction region.

The dimension decision unit 501 determines dimensions for which a regioncharacteristic amount is extracted in the region characteristic amountextractor 330 by using the partial region pair.

Further, as for the dimensions of the dimension decision unit 501, astructure which memorizes the dimensions decided in advance in a memoryunit may also be fine. Also, a structure in which an operator definesthem corresponding to such as classification of a target sound, or astructure in which the sound processing device 200 defines them bydetermines such as classification of the target sound may also be fine(not illustrated).

The extraction region acquisition unit 502 acquires a number of thedimensions from the dimension decision unit 501 and acquires the perdimension extraction region information 350 a which is information ofthe partial region pair from the extraction region memory unit 350. Andeach partial region of the partial region pair is outputted as firstextraction region information and second extraction region information.Hereinafter, a standard of size or difference in the sound identifiergenerator 340 (in case of difference, side which is subtracted) is madethe first region.

The first region characteristic amount extractor 503A of the regioncharacteristic amount extractor 503 takes out a power spectrum in thefirst extraction region from the power spectrum 320 a read out from thetime-frequency plane memory unit 320, and extracts the first regioncharacteristic amount 330 a. Further, as operation methods forcharacteristic amount extraction, although there exists a variety suchas a mean value and a maximum value (refer to FIG. 17), in thisexemplary embodiment, a case when a mean value is made a characteristicamount will be explained.

The second region characteristic amount extractor 503B takes out a powerspectrum in the second extraction region from the power spectrum 320 aread out from the time-frequency plane memory unit 320, and extracts thesecond region characteristic amount 330 b. Further, the operation methodfor characteristic amount extraction of the first region and the secondregion may be usually the same, however, different operation methods mayalso be combined.

(Extraction Region Memory Unit)

FIG. 6A is a figure showing a structure of the extraction region memoryunit 350 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The extraction region memory unit 350 of FIG. 6A, memorizes fourcoordinates as first extraction region information 602 and memorizesfour coordinates as second extraction region information 603 bycorrelating them to each dimension (first dimension, second dimension, .. . , n-th dimension) 601.

Further, although FIG. 6A shows information of a rectangle in which eachextraction region is expressed by four coordinates, information of theextraction region which is a partial region is not limited to the fourcoordinates. For example, if an extraction region shape is a square, theextraction region memory unit 350 may memorize two coordinates ofopposite angles. Also, if the shape is an extraction region with acomplicated shape, no smaller than four characteristic points may bememorized. Further, in case the shape is a curve line, the extractionregion memory unit 350 may memorize such as a focus and a radius or aparameter of a spline curve.

FIG. 6B is a figure showing a specific example of the per dimensionextraction region information 350 a according to this exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 6B is a figure showing twelve kinds of partial region pairscorresponding to 12 dimensions. As shown in FIG. 6B, it is desirable todecide shapes and positions of each partial region of the partial regionpairs so that the partial region pairs on the time-frequency plane mayinclude effective information for identification of the sound which istargeted.

Also, not a decision is made in one partial region pair, but consideringrelation with other partial region pairs comprehensively, the extractionregions may be decided. For example, according to the classification ofthe sound, it may be modified so that one which characterizes an orderof the partial region pair of each dimension may also be placed infront.

(Sound Identifier Generator)

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of the sound identifiergenerator 340 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The sound identifier generator 340 of this exemplary embodiment includesa size comparison unit 701, a quantization unit 702 and a datacombination unit 703.

The size comparison unit 701 inputs the first region characteristicamount 330 a and the second region characteristic amount 330 b outputtedfrom the region characteristic amount extractor 330, compares sizes, andoutputs the size comparison result. In this exemplary embodiment, asmentioned above, information which shows whether the second regioncharacteristic amount 330 b is larger than/equal to/smaller than thefirst region characteristic amount 330 a is outputted.

The quantization unit 702 outputs, from the size comparison result andwhen the second region characteristic amount is larger than the firstregion characteristic amount, “1” as a quantized data. Also, when thesecond region characteristic amount is equal to the first regioncharacteristic amount, the quantization unit 702 outputs “0” as thequantized data. Also, when the second region characteristic amount issmaller than the first region characteristic amount, the quantizationunit 702 outputs “−1” as the quantized data.

Quantization of so-called ternarization is performed (refer to the thirdprocessing 240 of FIG. 2). Such ternarization is in order to aim forspeedup of data processing with a little number of bits (2 bits) and atthe same time, to secure amount of information for improving accuracy.

The data combination unit 703 combines the quantized data of threevalues outputted from the quantization unit 702 for the number ofdimensions from the dimension decision unit 501, and outputs the soundidentifier 340 a of the target sound.

Further, combination methods may place the quantized data of threevalues for the number of dimensions simply in order of output, or mayput together the quantized data which are judged to be morecharacteristic (difference point is larger). Also, in case the generatedsound identifier is stored, “0” may be put together according to thecoding.

Or, instead of not simply putting together the quantized data, certainnumerical operation or logical operation may be performed.

<<Hardware Structure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hardware structure of the soundprocessing device 200 according to this exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 8, CPU 810 is a processor for operation control and realizeseach functional structure unit of FIG. 3 by executing a program. ROM 820memorizes initial data, fixed data of such as a program and a program.Further, in case the sound processing device 200 is connected to anetwork and sends and receives data via the network or is operated, acommunication control unit is included (not illustrated).

RAM 840 is a random access memory which the CPU 810 uses as a work areaof temporary memory. In the RAM 840, an area which memorizes datanecessary to realize this exemplary embodiment is reserved.

The RAM 840 memorizes: a sound signal data 841 which is sampled andinputted, a frame data 842 cut out from the sound signal according tothe shift time 401 a and the frame time length 401 b, a time-frequencydata 843 which is generated from each frame data 842, first extractionregion information 844 of a partial region pair of one certaindimension, second extraction region information 845 of a partial regionpair of one certain dimension, the first region characteristic amount330 a of the first extraction region, a size comparison result 846 ofthe first region characteristic amount 330 a and the second regioncharacteristic amount 330 b, a quantized data 847 which is ternarizedfrom the size comparison result 846, and the sound identifier 340 whichcombined the quantized data 847 which is ternarized for the number ofdimensions.

A storage 850 stores database and various parameters or data or programnecessary to realize this exemplary embodiment.

More specifically, the storage 850 memorizes: the extraction regionmemory unit 350 (refer to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B), the shift time 401 abetween the frames, the frame time length 401 b of each frame, adimension 851 of the dimension decision unit 501 and the time-frequencyplane data 320 b generated from a plurality of frames.

Also, the storage 850 memorizes a sound processing program 852 whichmakes processing of the whole body to be executed. In the soundprocessing program 852, a time-frequency analysis module 853 whichperforms time-frequency analysis, a region characteristic amountextraction module 854 which extracts a region characteristic amount ofeach dimension and a sound identifier generation module 855 whichgenerates the sound identifier by putting together the regioncharacteristic amounts for the number of dimensions are included.

An input interface 860 is an interface which inputs the sound signal asdigital data. Also, an output interface is an interface which outputsthe generated sound identifier.

Further, in FIG. 8, general-purpose data and program such as OS are notshown.

<<Operation Procedure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the soundprocessing device according to this exemplary embodiment. The CPU 810 ofFIG. 8 executes this flow chart by using the RAM 840. Each functionalstructure unit of FIGS. 3-5 and FIG. 7 executes this flow chart by theCPU 810.

First, in Step S901, the time-frequency analyzer 310 performstime-frequency analysis to the inputted sound signal and generates thetime-frequency plane. In Step S903, the dimension decision unit 501 ofthe region characteristic amount extractor 330 initializes to 1 aparameter n for loops in which following Steps S905-S915 loop for eachdimension.

In the loop for each dimension, in Step S905, the extraction regionacquisition unit 502 of the region characteristic amount extractor 330acquires a partial region pair of a first extraction region and a secondextraction region of the dimension n.

In Step S907, the region characteristic amount extractor 503 of theregion characteristic amount extractor 330 calculates a first regioncharacteristic amount and a second region characteristic amount of thedimension n. And in Step S909, the size comparison unit 701 of the soundidentifier generator 340 compares the first region characteristic amountand the second region characteristic amount of the dimension n, and thequantization unit 702 of the sound identifier generator 340 quantizesthe comparison result into three values and outputs the quantized data.In Step S911, the data combination unit 703 of the sound identifiergenerator 340 adds the quantized data of the dimension n to thequantized data of up to the dimension n−1. In Step S913, the soundidentifier generator 340 judges whether the calculation of the quantizeddata up to a decided N dimension is completed. When the calculation ofthe quantized data is not completed, processing proceeds to Step S915,adds +1 to the parameter n for loops (in FIG. 9, n=n+1), and returns toStep S905.

On the other hand, when the calculation of the quantized data iscompleted, processing proceeds to Step S917, and the sound identifiergenerator 340 outputs the generated sound identifier.

(Another Structure of the Time-Frequency Analyzer)

FIG. 10A is a block diagram showing a time-frequency analyzer 1010-1 ofanother structure of the time-frequency analyzer according to thisexemplary embodiment.

The time-frequency analyzer 1010-1 includes the frame cut-out unit 401,a fast Fourier transform (hereinafter, shown as FFT) unit 1002, a melscale (hereinafter, shown as log) processing unit 1003 and a discretecosine transform (hereinafter, shown as DCT) unit 1004. As for the framecut-out unit 401, although selection of the shift time and the frametime length exists, since basic operation is similar to FIG. 4, itsexplanation will be omitted.

The FFT unit 1002 analyzes a frequency component of the sound signal inthe cut out frame. The log processing unit 1003 executes processingwhich calculates a logarithm of an integral value in which a window (melscale) of a plurality of frequency regions is multiplied to an absolutevalue of the frequency component. The DCT unit 1004 executes, for theoutput of the log processing unit 1003, processing which puts togetherspectral information to a lower band. A mel frequency cepstrumcoefficient (hereinafter, shown as MFCC) which takes out 12-16dimensions in the lower dimensions of the output of the DCT 1004 is usedas a time-frequency data 1010-1 a which is arranged in order of time onthe time-frequency plane of this exemplary embodiment.

Such time-frequency analysis can use the similar structure as thestructure shown in non-patent document 1 (please refer to non-patentdocument 1 for a detailed explanation of the processing).

(Yet Another Structure of the Time-Frequency Analyzer)

FIG. 10B is a block diagram which shows a time-frequency analyzer 1010-2of yet another structure in the time-frequency analyzer according tothis exemplary embodiment. Such time-frequency analysis can use thesimilar structure as the structure shown in non-patent document 2(please refer to non-patent document 2 for its detailed explanation ofthe processing).

The time-frequency analyzer 1010-2 includes the frame cut-out unit 401,a discrete Fourier transform (hereinafter, shown as DFT) unit 1006, amel scale (log) processing unit 1007 and a subband division unit 1008.As for the frame cut-out unit 401, although selection of the shift timeand the frame time length exists, since basic operation is similar toFIG. 4, its explanation will be omitted.

The DFT unit 1006 analyzes a discrete frequency component of the soundsignal in the cut out frame. The log processing unit 1007 executesprocessing which calculates a logarithm of an integral value in which awindow (mel scale) of a plurality of frequency regions is multiplied toan absolute value of the frequency component.

The subband division unit 1008 divides the output of the log processingunit 1007 into band widths of 33 and calculates an average power. Theoutput of the subband division 1008 is a time-frequency data 1010-2 awhich is arranged in order of time on the time-frequency plane of thisexemplary embodiment.

(Yet Another Structure of the Time-Frequency Analyzer)

FIG. 10C is a block diagram which shows a time-frequency analyzer 1010-3of yet another structure of the time-frequency analyzer according tothis exemplary embodiment. Such time-frequency analysis can use thestructure described in the following non-patent document 4 (for detailedexplanation, please refer to the following document).

Masataka Goto, “A Chorus Section Detection Method for Musical AudioSignals and Its Application to a Music Listening Station”, IEEETRANSACTIONS ON AUDIO, SPEECH, AND LANGUAGE PROCESSING, VOL. 14, NO. 5,SEPTEMBER 2006 1783.

The time-frequency analyzer 1010-3 includes the frame cut-out unit 401,the fast Fourier transform (FFT) unit 1002 or the discrete Fouriertransform (DFT) unit 1006 and a chroma vector (chroma vector)calculation unit 1009. As for the frame cut-out unit 401, althoughselection of the shift time and the frame time length exists, sincebasic operation is similar to FIG. 4, its explanation will be omitted.

The FFT 1002 or the DFT 1006 analyzes a frequency component of the soundsignal in the cut out frame. The chroma vector calculation unit 1009calculates a chroma vector which is a characteristic amount whichexpressed distribution of the power with a chroma (pitch name: chroma)as a frequency axis. The output of the chroma vector calculation unit1009 is used as a time-frequency data 1010-3 a which is arranged inorder of time on the time-frequency plane of this exemplary embodiment.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, although parts of the procedureswhich are being used respectively in non-patent documents 1-3 areapplied in generating the time-frequency plane, they are not limited tothose.

In general, frames which overlap are cut out from the sound signal whileshifting, and frequency analysis is performed and frequency distributionof the power spectrum is calculated. And it is well known that, bydefining a plurality of window functions or interval functions whichselect different frequency widths and calculating an average power, atime-frequency plane can be generated.

The processing mentioned above such as FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), DFT(Discrete Fourier Transform), DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform), MCLT(Modulated Complex Transform), Haar Transform, Walsh-Hadamard Transform,Wavelet Transform, log and chroma vector calculation is a part of thespecific examples.

[The Third Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing device according to the third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be explained

The sound processing device according to this exemplary embodiment is,compared with the second exemplary embodiment mentioned above in which acase when the first region characteristic amount and the second regioncharacteristic amount are equal is quantized to “0”, different in apoint that a range of difference which is quantized to “0” in thequantization into three values is defined. That is, in case thedifference between the first region characteristic amount and the secondregion characteristic amount is within a predetermined range, the soundprocessing device regards it as having no characteristics, and quantizesit to “0”. Since other structures and operations are similar to those ofthe second exemplary embodiment, the same structures and operations areattached the same codes and their detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, by separating a partial regionpair with characteristics and a partial region pair with littlecharacteristics, it is possible to remove redundancy as well as toreduce the amount of information and to improve accuracy of the soundidentifier.

<<Concept of Sound Processing>>

FIG. 11 is a figure showing a concept of sound processing according tothis exemplary embodiment.

Further, since various methods are known for generation of thetime-frequency plane, FIG. 11 shows processing after generation of thetime-frequency plane. And since the first processing 210, thetime-frequency plane 220 and the second processing 230 of FIG. 11 aresimilar to FIG. 2 of the second exemplary embodiment, their explanationwill be omitted.

Fourth processing 1140 of FIG. 11 shows the way the calculateddifference is quantum coded.

In the fourth processing 1140, when the difference which subtracted thesecond region characteristic amount from the first region characteristicamount is between the difference of “+α” and “−β” (which corresponds toan interval between dashed lines 1141 a and 1141 b of FIG. 11), “0” isgenerated for an output value of the quantum coding. When the samedifference is a value larger than +α, “+1” is generated for the outputvalue of the quantum coding. When the same difference is a value smallerthan −β, “−1” is generated for the output value of the quantum coding.

Here, as for the values of “α” and “β”, appropriate values are differentdepending on classification of the sound which is targeted. For example,different values may be defined depending on whether it music or voice.In particular, in case a decided musical instrument or a decided soundis matched, it is desirable to define the most appropriate values.

A sound characteristic amount 1140 a is, as an easy example, one whichplaced values which are the differences being quantum coded in order ofdimension in a one-dimensional direction. For example, in case of 300dimensions, it is expressed in 600 bits (=2 bits (three values)×300),and the sound identifier of 75 bytes is generated.

Further, it may not be one which simply placed values which are thedifferences being quantum coded in order of dimension in aone-dimensional direction, but may also be one in which they are placedin a multidimensional direction or one to which further additionaloperations are added, and is not limited to this example.

(Sound Identifier Generator)

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound identifiergenerator 1240 according this exemplary embodiment.

The sound identifier generator 1240 includes a difference valuecalculation unit 1241, a quantization unit 1242, a quantization boundaryinformation memory unit 1244 and the data combination unit 703. Further,since the function of the data combination unit 703 is similar to FIG. 7of the second exemplary embodiment, its explanation will be omitted.

The difference value calculation unit 1241 calculates the differencebetween the first region characteristic amount 330 a and the secondregion characteristic amount 330 b outputted from the regioncharacteristic amount extractor 330. In this example, it is a signeddifference=(the second region characteristic amount−the first regioncharacteristic amount).

The quantization boundary information memory unit 1244 memorizesquantization boundary information which is a threshold value ofquantization into three values defined in advance. Further, thequantization boundary information may be “+α” and “−β” of whichnumerical values are different in plus and minus as shown in FIG. 11, ormay also be the same numerical value. Also, the quantization boundaryinformation memory unit 1244 may be a hardware structure such as aswitch or may also be a software structure in which an operator inputsfrom an operation unit.

The quantization unit 1242 outputs, on the basis of the signeddifference value which is the output of the difference value calculationunit 1241 and the quantization boundary information which is defined bythe quantization boundary decision unit 1244, quantized data of threevalues of “+1”, “0” and “−1”.

[The Fourth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing device according to the fourth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be explained.

When the boundary of quantization is fixed like the third exemplaryembodiment, a situation arises such that, for a specific sound, asignificant value (+1 or −1) is biased to a specific position of thesound identifier (entropy becomes small). Accordingly, a problem occursthat identification capability declines for these sounds.

The sound processing device according to this exemplary embodiment is,compared with the third exemplary embodiment mentioned above, differentin a point that the quantization boundary information of quantizationinto three values can be defined automatically inside the device. Inthis exemplary embodiment, the quantization boundary information isdecided on the basis of the distribution of the difference values of alldimensions. Since other structures and operations are similar to thoseof the third exemplary embodiment, the same codes are attached to thesame structures and operations and their detailed explanation will beomitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, by the boundary of quantizationbeing calculated adaptively (dynamically) to the sound, it becomespossible to suppress the significant value (+1 or −1) being biased to aspecific position of the sound identifier for any sounds. Therefore, theidentification capability can be made high.

(Sound Identifier Generator)

FIG. 13 is a block diagram which shows a structure of a sound identifiergenerator 1340 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The sound identifier generator 1340 includes the difference valuecalculation unit 1241, the quantization unit 1242, a quantizationboundary decision unit 1344 and the data combination unit 703. Further,since the functions of the difference value calculation unit 1241, thequantization unit 1242 and the data combination unit 703 are similar toFIG. 12 of the third exemplary embodiment, their explanation will beomitted.

The quantization boundary decision unit 1344, when the difference valuesof all dimensions between the first region characteristic amount 330 aand the second region characteristic amount 330 b supplied from thedifference value calculation unit 1241 are supplied, decides theboundary of quantization on the basis of the distribution of thedifference values of all dimensions and supplies the decidedquantization boundary information to the quantization unit 1242. Here,the distribution of the difference values of all dimensions is afrequency (probability) of occurrence for difference values.

Further, in case the difference value is a scalar quantity, for example,a range (that is, threshold values) corresponding to each quantizationlevel (+1, 0 or −1) is decided and the range (threshold values) issupplied to the quantization unit 1242 as the quantization boundaryinformation. Also, in case the difference value is a vector quantity, aparameter for performing, for example, vector quantization, for example,a representative vector of each quantized index (such as a center ofgravity vector) is decided, and it is supplied to the quantization unit1242 as the information of the quantization boundary.

The quantization boundary decision unit 1344 may, in case the differencevalue is a scalar quantity and quantization of M values is performed(M=2, 3, . . . and so on), on the basis of the distribution of thedifference values of all dimensions, decide the range (threshold values)of quantization so that a proportion of the respective quantized indicesfor all dimensions may become even.

Also, for example, in case the difference value is a scalar quantity,and in case quantization into three values is performed, thequantization boundary decision unit 1344 determines the threshold valueswhich show the range to be quantized to “0” which shows that there areno differences on the basis of the distribution of the difference valuesof all dimensions. Next, the quantization boundary decision unit 1344supplies the decided threshold values to the quantization unit 1242. Forexample, the quantization boundary decision unit 1344 may calculateabsolute values of the difference values of all dimensions, sort thecalculated absolute values of the difference values, and output pointsof a certain prescribed proportion (further, this prescribed proportionis supposed to be provided as, for example, an input) from its highestrank or lowest rank as the threshold value.

As for the prescribed proportion, a case when it is made P % of apercentage (for example, P=25%) is taken as an example, and will beexplained specifically. The quantization boundary decision unit 1344sorts the absolute values of the difference values of all dimensions(suppose number of dimensions=N) in ascending order. In this case, a setof the absolute values of the difference values sorted in ascendingorder is represented as D(i)={D(0), D(1), D(2), . . . , D(N−1)}. Here,the value at the position of P % from the lowest rank in the permutationsorted in ascending order will be, for example, D(floor(N×P/100)) andthe threshold value will be th=D(floor(N×P/100)). Further, floor( ) is afunction which truncates those below the radix point.

Further, the quantization boundary decision unit 1344 may, other thanmaking the prescribed proportion mentioned above into the thresholdvalue, for example, decide the threshold values so that the proportionof the quantized data of (+1, 0, −1) may approach even.

According to the decision of the quantization boundary by thequantization boundary decision unit 1344 of this exemplary embodiment,for example, in case the fixed threshold value in the third exemplaryembodiment is used, for a sound with a few ups and downs of powerspectrum on the time-frequency plane, there is a room that the quantizeddata of a large majority of the dimensions (or all dimensions) willbecome “0”.

In contrast, when the adaptive threshold value in this exemplaryembodiment is used, since the threshold value is adjusted automaticallyto a small value for the sound with a few ups and downs, a situation inwhich the quantized data of a large majority of the dimensions will be“0” does not occur.

<<Operation Procedure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the soundprocessing device according to this exemplary embodiment.

The CPU 810 of FIG. 8 executes this flow chart by using the RAM 840.Each functional structure unit of FIGS. 3-5 and FIG. 13 executes thisflow chart by the CPU 810. Further, in order to execute this exemplaryembodiment, a region which memorizes data of the quantization boundaryin the RAM 840 of FIG. 8 is added, and a quantization boundary decisionmodule is added to the storage 850.

Also, in FIG. 14, as for Steps S901 and S917 in FIG. 9 of the secondexemplary embodiment, their description will be omitted. Also, to stepswhich perform the same processing as FIG. 9, the same step number isattached and their explanation will be omitted.

First, in the loop which calculates the difference of each dimension, inStep S905, the extraction region acquisition unit 502 of the regioncharacteristic amount extractor 330 acquires the first regioncharacteristic amount and the second region characteristic amount of thedimension n. And in Step S907, the region characteristic amountextractor 503 of the region characteristic amount extractor 330calculates the first region characteristic amount and the second regioncharacteristic amount of the dimension n. After that, in Step S1409, thedifference value calculation unit 1241 calculates the difference valueof the first region characteristic amount and the second regioncharacteristic amount of the dimension n. In Step S1411, the differencevalue of the dimension n is memorized by correlating it to the dimensionn.

When calculation of the difference values of all dimensions iscompleted, the sound identifier generator 1340 proceeds from Step S913to S1413, and the quantization boundary decision unit 1344 of the soundidentifier generator 1340 decides the quantization boundary on the basisof the distribution of the difference values of all dimensions.

Next, in the quantization loop of each dimension, first, in Step S1415,the loop value n is initialized to “1”. In Step S1417, the quantizationunit 1242 of the sound identifier generator 1340 quantizes thedifference value of the dimension n and outputs the quantized data. Andin Step S1419, the data combination unit 703 of the sound identifiergenerator 1340 adds the outputted quantized data of the dimension n tothe quantized data of up to the dimension n−1.

In Step S1421, the sound identifier generator 1340 repeats thequantization loop of each dimension by performing +1 in Step S1423 untilthe loop value n will be the number of all dimensions N. Whenquantization of all dimensions is completed, processing proceeds to StepS917.

[The Fifth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing device according to the fifth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The sound processing device according to this exemplary embodiment is,when compared with the second to fourth exemplary embodiment mentionedabove, different in a point that extraction method of the regioncharacteristic amount is selected for each dimension (that is, for eachpartial region pair). Since other structures and operations are similarto those of the second exemplary embodiment, the same codes are attachedto the same structures and operations and their detailed explanationwill be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, since the region characteristicamount calculation methods are different among the dimensions (there isa variety in the region characteristic amount calculation methods),correlation between the dimensions can be made even smaller.Accordingly, in addition to the effect of the exemplary embodimentmentioned above, identification capability which is a degree which canidentify different sounds can be made even higher.

<<Functional Structure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device 1500 according to this exemplary embodiment.

Further, in FIG. 15, the same codes are attached to the functionalstructure units including the similar functions as FIG. 3 of the secondexemplary embodiment and their detailed explanation will be omitted.

A characteristic structure in FIG. 15 is a point that a regioncharacteristic amount extraction method memory unit 1560 which memorizesextraction methods of the region characteristic amount is included.

The region characteristic amount extraction method memory unit 1560memorizes, corresponding to each dimension (since it is known in whichshape and in which position the partial region pair in each dimensionincludes the first partial region and the second partial region), theregion characteristic amount extraction methods appropriate for regioncharacteristic amount extraction.

And a region characteristic amount extractor 1530 extracts the regioncharacteristic amount of the first partial region and the second partialregion according to a region characteristic amount extraction method1560 a sent from the region characteristic amount extraction methodmemory unit 1560 corresponding to each dimension and outputs it to thesound identifier generator 340.

(Region Characteristic Amount Extractor)

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a structure of the regioncharacteristic amount extractor 1530 according to this exemplaryembodiment.

In FIG. 16, the same reference codes are attached to the functionalstructure units which fulfill the similar functions as FIG. 5 of thesecond exemplary embodiment and their detailed explanation will beomitted.

A region characteristic amount extraction method acquisition unit 1604is added newly to the region characteristic amount extractor 1530 ofFIG. 16.

The region characteristic amount extraction method acquisition unit 1604acquires the region characteristic amount extraction methodcorresponding to each dimension from the region characteristic amountextraction method memory unit 1560 and outputs region characteristicamount calculation method information to the region characteristicamount extractor 503 which performs region characteristic amountextraction according to the extraction method.

(Region Characteristic Amount Extraction Method Memory Unit)

FIG. 17 is a figure showing a structure of the region characteristicamount extraction method memory unit 1560 according to this exemplaryembodiment.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, although a case when the regioncharacteristic amount extraction method memory unit 1560 memorizes oneset of region characteristic amount extraction method corresponding toeach dimension is explained, a structure which memorizes a plurality ofdifferent sets according to a classification or a characteristic of thesound and which selects one set according to the sound signal to beinputted may also be fine.

The region characteristic amount extraction method memory unit 1560 ofFIG. 17 memorizes the region characteristic amount extraction method bycorrelating them to each dimension 1701. Corresponding to a signalrepresenting each dimension, the region characteristic amount extractionmethod 1702 is read out, and is sent to the region characteristic amountextraction method acquisition unit 1604 of the region characteristicamount extractor 1530.

Further, when an order of the dimension is fixed, a structure whichreports not the signal representing the dimension but end of regioncharacteristic amount extraction, and which reads out the next regioncharacteristic amount extraction method is also fine.

<<Operation Procedure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the soundprocessing device according to this exemplary embodiment.

The CPU 810 of FIG. 8 executes this flow chart by using the RAM 840.Each functional structure unit of FIG. 15, FIG. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 13executes this flow chart by the CPU 810.

Further, in order to execute this exemplary embodiment, a regionmemorizing the dimension which is being executed and a region memorizingthe region characteristic amount extraction information of the dimensionare added in the RAM 840 of FIG. 8. Also, the region characteristicamount extraction method memory unit 1560 and a region characteristicamount extraction method acquisition module are added to the storage850. Also, in FIG. 18, the same step numbers are attached to the stepswhich perform the same processing as FIG. 9, and their explanation willbe omitted.

A characteristic step in FIG. 18 is an addition of Step S1801. In StepS1801, the region characteristic amount extractor 1530 acquires theregion characteristic amount calculation method corresponding to thedimension n or the information which shows that from the regioncharacteristic amount extraction method memory unit 1560. And in Step1807, by the region characteristic amount extraction method acquired inStep S1801, the first region characteristic amount and the second regioncharacteristic amount are extracted in the region characteristic amountextractor 1530. Further, Step S1801 may also be placed before Step S905.

[The Sixth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing device according to the sixth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The sound processing device according to this exemplary embodiment is,when compared with the second to the fifth exemplary embodimentmentioned above, different in a point that a comparison/quantizationmethod memory unit memorizes a comparison/quantization methodcorresponding to each dimension and the sound identifier generatorperforms comparison/quantization corresponding to each dimension.

Since other structures and operations are similar to those of the secondexemplary embodiment, the same structures and operations are attachedthe same codes and their detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, since thecomparison/quantization methods are different among the dimensions(there is a variety in the comparison/quantization methods), correlationbetween the dimensions can be made even smaller. Accordingly, inaddition to the effect of the second exemplary embodiment,identification capability which is a degree which can identify differentimages can be made even higher.

<<Functional Structure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device 1900 according to this exemplary embodiment.

Further, in FIG. 19, the same codes are attached to the functionalstructure units including the similar functions as FIG. 3 of the secondexemplary embodiment and their detailed explanation will be omitted.

A characteristic structure in FIG. 19 is a point that acomparison/quantization method memory unit 1970 which memorizes thecomparison/quantization methods is included. The comparison/quantizationmethod memory unit 1970 memorizes, corresponding to each dimension(since it is known in which shape and in which position the partialregion pair in each dimension includes the first partial region and thesecond partial region), the comparison/quantization methods appropriatefor comparison/quantization.

And a sound identifier generator 1940 performs comparison/quantizationaccording to a comparison/quantization method 1970 a sent from thecomparison/quantization method memory unit 1970 corresponding to eachdimension, and generates the sound identifier from the results of alldimensions.

(Sound Identifier Generator)

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a structure of the sound identifiergenerator 1940 according to this exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 20, the same reference codes are attached to the functionalstructure units which fulfill the similar functions as FIG. 7 of thesecond exemplary embodiment and their detailed explanation will beomitted.

In the sound identifier generator 1940 of FIG. 20, acomparison/quantization method acquisition unit 2004 is added newly. Thecomparison/quantization method acquisition unit 2004 acquires thecomparison/quantization method corresponding to each dimension from thecomparison/quantization method memory unit 1970 and outputs thecomparison/quantization method information to the size comparison unit701 and the quantization unit 702 which perform comparison/quantizationaccording to the comparison/quantization method.

(Comparison/Quantization Method Memory Unit)

FIG. 21 is a figure showing a structure of the comparison/quantizationmethod memory unit 1970 according to this exemplary embodiment.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, although a case when thecomparison/quantization method memory unit 1970 memorizes one set ofcomparison/quantization method corresponding to each dimension isexplained, a structure which memorizes a plurality of different setsaccording to a classification and a characteristic of the sound andwhich selects one set according to the sound signal to be inputted mayalso be fine.

The comparison/quantization method memory unit 1970 of FIG. 21 memorizesa comparison/quantization method 2102 by correlating it to eachdimension 2101. Corresponding to a signal which represents eachdimension, the comparison/quantization method 2102 is read out, and issent to the comparison/quantization method acquisition unit 2004 of thesound identifier generator 1940. Further, when an order of the dimensionis fixed, a structure which reports not the signal representing thedimension but end of comparison/quantization, and reads out the nextcomparison/quantization method is also fine.

In FIG. 21, a comparison/quantization method A is binarization of sizecomparison. A comparison/quantization method B is ternarization whichincludes quantization boundaries with the same threshold value betweenwhich quantized to “0”. A comparison/quantization method C isquantization of no smaller than four values. A comparison/quantizationmethod D is a method which, in case the region characteristic amount isa vector value, converts it into a scalar quantity and performsquantization. A comparison/quantization method E performs quantizationso that, in case the region characteristic amount is a vector value, adegree of similarity to a representative vector such as a center ofgravity vector will become maximum (minimum distance). Acomparison/quantization method F decides the boundaries of quantizationso that proportion to all dimensions may become even and performsquantization on the basis of that. A comparison/quantization method G isquantization which calculates absolute values of the difference valuesof all dimensions, sorts the calculated absolute values of thedifference values, and makes points of a certain prescribed proportionfrom its highest rank or lowest rank the quantization boundary(threshold value). A comparison/quantization method H decides thequantization boundaries (threshold values) not by the prescribedproportion like the comparison/quantization method G, but so that theproportion of the quantized index of +1, 0 or −1 may approach even.

Also, in FIG. 21, M is a number of levels of quantization and th is athreshold value which decides a fixed quantization boundary.

<<Operation Procedure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the soundprocessing device according to this exemplary embodiment.

The CPU 810 of FIG. 8 executes this flow chart by using the RAM 840.Each functional structure unit of FIG. 19, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 19executes this flow chart by the CPU 810.

Further, in order to execute this exemplary embodiment, a regionmemorizing the dimension which is being executed and a region memorizingthe comparison/quantization method information of the dimension areadded to the RAM 840 of FIG. 8. Also, the comparison/quantization methodmemory unit 1970 and a comparison/quantization method acquisition moduleare added to the storage 850. Also, in FIG. 22, the same step numbersare attached to the steps which perform the same processing as FIG. 9,and their explanation will be omitted.

A characteristic step in FIG. 22 is an addition of Step S2201. In StepS2201, the sound identifier generator 1940 acquires thecomparison/quantization method corresponding to the dimension n or theinformation which shows it from the comparison/quantization methodmemory unit 1970. And in Step S2209, by the comparison/quantizationmethod acquired in Step S2201, the sound identifier generator 1940executes comparison/quantization. Further, Step S2201 may be placedbefore Step S905 or after Step S907.

[The Seventh Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing system according to the seventh exemplaryembodiment of the present invention to which the sound processing deviceof the present invention mentioned above is applied will be explained.

Compared with the second to the sixth exemplary embodiment mentionedabove, it is different in a point that the sound identifier generationmethod memory unit memorizes the sound identifier generation methodcorresponding to each dimension and the sound identifier generationcorresponding to each dimension is performed. Since other structures andoperations are similar to those of the second exemplary embodiment, thefifth exemplary embodiment and the sixth exemplary embodiment, the samestructures and operations are attached the same codes and their detailedexplanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, because the sound identifiergeneration methods are different among the dimensions (there is avariety in the sound identifier generation methods), correlation betweenthe dimensions can be made even smaller. Accordingly, in addition to theeffect of the second exemplary embodiment, identification capabilitywhich is a degree which can identify different images can be made evenhigher.

<<Functional Structure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a soundprocessing device 2300 according to this exemplary embodiment.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, the same reference numbers areattached to the functional structure units which fulfill the similarfunctions as FIG. 15 of the fifth exemplary embodiment and FIG. 19 ofthe sixth exemplary embodiment and their explanation will be omitted.

This exemplary embodiment is different from the exemplary embodimentsmentioned above in including a sound identifier generation method memoryunit 2380. In the sound identifier generation method memory unit 2380,the sampling method, the frame time length/shift time, thetime-frequency analysis method, the region characteristic amountextraction method and the comparison/quantization method are memorizedby correlating them to the dimension.

Further, in FIG. 23, the reason why the dimension is outputted from theregion characteristic amount extractor 1530 is because it is made tocorrespond to FIG. 5 of the second exemplary embodiment. The dimensiondecision unit may be within a component other than the regioncharacteristic amount extractor or may also be outside as an independentcomponent.

First, the sound identifier generation method memory unit 2380 selects asampling method corresponds to the dimension. Either of sample soundsignals 2301 a-2301 c which are sampled and inputted by a samplingmethod 2502 selected is analyzed corresponding to the dimension by thefirst time-frequency analyzer 310, the second time-frequency analyzer1010-1 or the third time-frequency analyzer 1010-2 which is selectedaccording to a time-frequency analysis method 2504 from within atime-frequency analyzer 2310.

Also, corresponding to the dimension, a frame time length/shift time2503 may also be changed. Further, although only three sampling methodsand actual feeling frequency analysis methods are shown in FIG. 23,number of them is not limited.

Although the first time-frequency analyzer 310, the secondtime-frequency analyzer 1010-1 and the third time-frequency analyzer1010-2 are made to correspond to FIG. 4, FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B of theexemplary embodiments mentioned above, they are not limited to these.For example, the time-frequency analyzer 1010-3 illustrated in FIG. 10Cmay also be used.

The first time-frequency analyzer 310, the second time-frequencyanalyzer 1010-1 and the third time-frequency analyzer 1010-1 output thetime-frequency data 310 a, 1010-1 a and 1010-2 a which include powerspectrum placed on the plane with time axis and frequency axisrespectively.

Each time-frequency data in which time and frequency are discretized isplaced on the time axis in order of time, and is arranged on a firsttime-frequency plane 2320-1, a second time-frequency plane 2320-2 and athird time-frequency plane 2320-3 of a time-frequency plane memory unit2320.

The region characteristic amount extractor 1530 reads out the perdimension extraction region information 350 a which shows the partialregion pair in sequence and according to the number of dimensions fromthe partial region pair including the two partial regions memorized inthe extraction region memory unit 350.

And a power spectrum 2320-1 a, 2320-2 a or 2320-3 a in each partialregion of the partial region pair from the time-frequency planecorresponding to the dimension is read out from the time-frequency planememory unit 2320.

To the read out power spectrum in each partial region of the partialregion pair from the time-frequency plane corresponding to thedimension, an operation is performed by a region characteristic amountextraction method 2505 corresponding to the dimension, and a firstregion characteristic amount 1530 a is extracted from the first partialregion and a second region characteristic amount 1530 b is extractedfrom the second partial region.

The sound identifier generator 1940 performs, on the basis of acomparison/quantization method 2506 corresponding to the dimension,comparison and quantization into three values of the first regioncharacteristic amount 1530 a and the second region characteristic amount1530 b, and by combining the results for the number of dimensions(corresponds to the number of the partial region pairs), generates thesound identifier 340 a.

(Time-Frequency Analyzer)

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a structure of the time-frequencyanalyzer 2310 according to this exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 24, the first time-frequency analyzer 310 of thetime-frequency analyzer 2310 of this exemplary embodiment generates thetime-frequency plane by using the wavelet transform shown in FIG. 4 ofthe second exemplary embodiment.

The second time-frequency analyzer 1010-1 generates the time-frequencyplane by using the FFT 1002, the log 1003, the DCT 1004 shown in FIG.10A.

The third time-frequency analyzer 1010-2 generates the time-frequencyplane by using the DFT 1006, the log 1007 and the subband division 1008shown in FIG. 10B.

The time-frequency data 310 a, 1010-1 a and 1010-2 a outputted from therespective time-frequency analyzers are memorized on the firsttime-frequency plane 2320-1, the second time-frequency plane 2320-2 andthe third time-frequency plane 2320-3 of the time-frequency plane memoryunit 2320.

The time-frequency analyzer 2310 of this exemplary embodiment performsselection processing on the basis of the frame time length/shift time orthe time-frequency analysis method from the sound identifier generationmethod memory unit 2380 and the dimension from the region characteristicamount extractor 1530. And the data of the first partial region and thesecond partial region of the time-frequency plane corresponding to thedimension are outputted to the region characteristic amount extractor1530.

(Sound Identifier Generation Method Memory Unit)

FIG. 25 is a figure showing a structure of a sound identifier generationmethod memory unit 2380 according to this exemplary embodiment.

Further, methods and so on described in each field of FIG. 25 are oneexample, and are not limited to this arrangement. Appropriatearrangement, a number of dimensions and so on are defined according tothe sound classification and the contents or sound acquisitionenvironments and also sound memory media.

In the sound identifier generation method memory unit 2380 of FIG. 25,the sampling method 2502, the frame time length/shift time 2503, thetime-frequency analysis method 2504, the region characteristic amountextraction method 2505 and the comparison/quantization method 2506 arememorized by correlating them to a dimension 2501.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, although an example in which eachmethod is selected is shown, there may also be one in which the methodis made fixed. For example, if the region characteristic amountextraction method 2505 is selected corresponding to the dimension andothers are made fixed, this corresponds to the fifth exemplaryembodiment, and if the comparison/quantization method 2506 is selectedcorresponding to the dimension and others are made fixed, thiscorresponds to the sixth exemplary embodiment.

<<Operation Procedure of the Sound Processing Device>>

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the soundprocessing device 2300 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The CPU 810 of FIG. 8 executes this flow chart by using the RAM 840.Each functional structure unit of FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 executes this flowchart by the CPU 810. Further, in order to execute this exemplaryembodiment, a region which memorizes the dimension which is beingexecuted and a region which memorizes each method information of thedimension are added in the RAM 840 of FIG. 8, and the sound identifiergeneration method memory unit 2380 and a sound characteristic amountextraction method acquisition module are added to the storage 850.

Also, in FIG. 26, the same step numbers are attached to the steps whichperform the same processing as FIG. 9, FIG. 18 and FIG. 22, and theirexplanation will be omitted.

In FIG. 26, in the first Step S903, a parameter n which shows a currentdimension is initialized to “1”. In Step S2601, the sound processingdevice 2300 acquires, corresponding to the dimension n, the samplingmethod 2502, the frame time length/shift time 2503, the time-frequencyanalysis method 2504, the region characteristic amount extraction method2505 and the comparison/quantization method 2506 from the soundidentifier generation method memory unit 2380. Next, in Step S2603, thetime-frequency analyzer 2310 performs, to the sound signal which issampled and inputted corresponding to the dimension n, time-frequencyanalysis corresponding to the dimension n and generates thetime-frequency plane.

Following processing is a procedure which combined the processing ofFIG. 9, FIG. 18 and FIG. 22. In FIG. 26, corresponding to eachdimension, from the sampling method to the comparison/quantizationmethod are selected and executed, and the sound identifier is generatedby combining them. Further, corresponding to the dimension, arrangementposition in the sound identifier or an operation method with otherquantized data and so on may also be memorized and selected.

[The Eighth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing system according to the eighth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention to which the sound processing deviceof the present invention mentioned above is applied will be explained.

The sound processing system according to this exemplary embodiment isone which applied the sound processing device of the present inventionmentioned above to a sound identification system which identifies thesound contents on the basis of the sound signal which is being sent viaa network. Since the structure and operation of the sound processingdevice are described in the second to the seventh exemplary embodiment,their detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, identification of the soundcontents can be carried out with little amount of information and withhigh accuracy.

<<Structure of the Sound Processing System>>

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound processingsystem 2700 according to this exemplary embodiment. The sound processingsystem 2700 of FIG. 27 includes a sound identification system 2710including the sound processing device of this exemplary embodiment.

The sound identification system 2710 includes a communication controlunit 2711 which receives the sound signal from various equipment via anetwork 2780 and sends an identified result to the various equipment.The received sound signal is inputted to the sound processing device ofthis exemplary embodiment and the sound identifier is generated. A soundDB 2712 accumulates the sound identifiers generated in advance bycorrelating them to the sound contents or their ID.

A sound identification device 2713 matches the sound identifier whichthe sound processing device of this exemplary embodiment generated andthe sound identifiers accumulated in the sound DB 2712 and reports thesound contents corresponding to the sound identifiers which agree withina predetermined range as the identified result via the communicationcontrol unit 2711.

As the various equipment which sends the sound signal in order toidentify the sound contents, one which can send a sound signal to thesound identification system 2710 via the network 2780 may be fine. Forexample, it may be a music distribution site 2720, a music productionsite 2730, a voice reproducer 2740, a voice recorder 2750, a portableterminal 2760 possible for viewing, a notebook-sized personal computer(hereinafter, PC) 2770 and so on.

[The Ninth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a sound processing system according to the ninth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention to which the sound processing deviceof the present invention mentioned above is applied will be explained.

The sound processing system according to this exemplary embodiment isone which applied the sound processing device of the present inventionmentioned above to a sound matching system which matches the soundcontents on the basis of the sound signal which is being sent fromvarious equipment via a network. Since the structure and operation ofthe sound processing device are described in the second to the seventhexemplary embodiment, their detailed explanation will be omitted.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, although an example in which,when agreement is observed from the matching result, reporting is madeas illegality exists is shown, but it is not limited to this. It isapplicable to all systems which uses the result of sound matching.

According to this exemplary embodiment, matching of the sound contentscan be carried out with little amount of information and with highaccuracy.

<<Structure of the Sound Processing System>>

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a structure of a sound processingsystem 2800 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The sound processing system 2800 of FIG. 28 includes a sound matchingsystem 2810 including the sound processing device of this exemplaryembodiment.

The sound matching system 2810 includes the communication control unit2711 which receives the sound signal from various equipment via thenetwork 2780 and sends the matching result or an illegalitydetermination result to the various equipment.

The received sound signal is inputted to the sound processing device ofthis exemplary embodiment and the sound identifier is generated. Thesound DB 2712 accumulates the sound identifiers generated in advance bycorrelating them to the sound contents or their ID.

A sound matching device 2813 matches the sound identifier which thesound processing device of this exemplary embodiment generated and thesound identifiers accumulated in the sound DB 2712 and, when there existsound contents which agree within a predetermined range, notifies anillegality reporting unit 2814. The illegality reporting unit 2814reports that the inputted sound signal is one of illegal contents viathe communication control unit 2711.

As the various equipment which sends the sound signal in order to matchthe sound contents, similar to the equipment of FIG. 27, one which cansend a sound signal to the sound matching system 2810 via the network2780 may be fine.

[The Tenth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a video processing system according to the tenth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention to which the sound processing deviceof the present invention mentioned above is applied will be explained.

The video processing system according to this exemplary embodiment isone which applied the sound processing device of the present inventionmentioned above to a video identification system which identifies imagecontents on the basis of the sound signal which is being sent fromvarious equipment via a network. Since the structure and operation ofthe sound processing device are described in the second to the seventhexemplary embodiment, their detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, identification of the imagecontents can be carried out with little amount of information and withhigh accuracy.

<<Structure of the Video Processing System>>

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a structure of a video processingsystem 2900 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The video processing system 2900 of FIG. 29 includes a videoidentification system 2910 including the sound processing device of thisexemplary embodiment.

The video identification system 2910 includes a communication controlunit 2911 which receives the sound signal included in a video signalfrom various equipment via a network 2980 and sends the identifiedresult to the various equipment. The received sound signal is inputtedto the sound processing device of this exemplary embodiment and thesound identifier is generated. A video DB 2912 accumulates the soundidentifiers generated in advance by correlating them to the imagecontents or their ID.

A video identification device 2913 matches the sound identifier whichthe sound processing device of this exemplary embodiment generated andthe sound identifiers accumulated in the video DB 2912 and reports videocontents corresponding to the sound identifiers which agree within apredetermined range as the identified result via the communicationcontrol unit 2911.

As the various equipment which sends the sound signal in order toidentify the image contents, one which can send the sound signal to thevideo identification system 2910 via the network 2980 may be fine. Forexample, it may be a video distribution site 2920, a video productionsite 2930, a video reproducer 2940, a video recorder 2950, a portableterminal 2960 possible for viewing, a notebook-sized PC 2970 and so on.

[The Eleventh Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a video processing system according to the eleventh exemplaryembodiment of the present invention to which the sound processing deviceof the present invention mentioned above is applied will be explained.

The video processing system according to this exemplary embodiment isone which applied the sound processing device of the present inventionmentioned above to a video matching system which matches the imagecontents on the basis of the sound signal which is being sent fromvarious equipment via a network. Since the structure and operation ofthe sound processing device are described in the second to the seventhexemplary embodiment, their detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, matching of the image contentscan be carried out with little amount of information and with highaccuracy.

<<Structure of the Video Processing System>>

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a structure of a video processingsystem 3000 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The video processing system 3000 of FIG. 30 includes a video matchingsystem 3010 including the sound processing device of this exemplaryembodiment.

The video matching system 3010 includes the communication control unit2911 which receives the sound signal via the network 2980 and sends theidentified result. The received sound signal is inputted to the soundprocessing device of this exemplary embodiment and the sound identifieris generated.

The video DB 2912 accumulates the sound identifiers generated in advanceby correlating them to the image contents or their ID.

A video matching device 3013 matches the sound identifier which thesound processing device of this exemplary embodiment generated and thesound identifiers accumulated in the video DB 2912, and in case thereexist the video contents which agree within a predetermined range,notifies an illegality reporting unit 3014. The illegality reportingunit 3014 reports that there exists illegality in the image contents ofthe received sound signal via the communication control unit 2911.

Similar equipment as FIG. 29 which sends the sound signal in order tomatch the image contents is connected via the network 2980. Further, theconnected equipment does not matter as far as it is one which can sendthe sound signal to the video matching system 3010 via the network.

[The Twelfth Exemplary Embodiment]

Next, a video processing system according to the twelfth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention to which the sound processing deviceof the present invention mentioned above is applied will be explained.

The video processing system according to this exemplary embodiment isone which applied the sound processing device of the present inventionmentioned above to a video matching system which matches the imagecontents on the basis of the sound signal and so on which is being sentfrom various equipment via a network. In the video matching system ofthis exemplary embodiment, both of the sound identifier and an imageidentifier are used for matching the image contents.

Further, determination of illegality may make the case where both of thesound identifiers and the image identifiers agree a condition or thecase where either the sound identifiers or the image identifiers agreethe condition. Since the structure and operation of the sound processingdevice are described in the second to the seventh exemplary embodiment,their detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this exemplary embodiment, matching of the image contentscan be carried out with little amount of information and with highaccuracy.

<<Structure of the Sound Processing System>>

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a structure of a video processingsystem 3100 according to this exemplary embodiment.

The video processing system 3100 of FIG. 31 includes a video matchingsystem 3110 including the sound processing device of this exemplaryembodiment.

The video matching system 3110 includes a communication control unit3111 which receives the sound signal and the image identifier fromvarious equipment via a network 3180 and sends the matching result tothe various equipment. The received sound signal is inputted to thesound processing device of this exemplary embodiment and the soundidentifier is generated.

A video DB 3112 accumulates the sound identifiers and the imageidentifiers generated in advance by correlating them to the imagecontents or their ID. Further, as for the image identifier, an imageidentifier (so-called frame characteristic amount) generated from aframe of the image by a difference (of brightness) in the partial regionpair similar to this exemplary embodiment may be used, or other publiclyknown image identifiers may also be used.

A video matching device 3113 matches the sound identifier which thesound processing device of this exemplary embodiment generated and thesound identifiers accumulated in the video DB 3112 and at the same time,matches the image identifier which the communication control unit 3111received and the image identifiers accumulated in the video DB 3112.

In case there exist video contents which agree in both or in either onewithin a predetermined range, it notifies the illegality reporting unit2714. An illegality reporting unit 3114 reports that there existsillegality in the image contents of the received sound signal and theimage identifier via the communication control unit 3111.

Similar equipment as FIG. 29 which sends the sound signal and the imageidentifier in order to match the image contents is connected via thenetwork 3180. Further, the connected equipment does not matter as far asit is one which can send the sound signal and the image identifier tothe video matching system 3110 via the network.

Also, in this exemplary embodiment, a structure including an imageprocessing device in which the equipment generates the image identifierfrom the image signal included in the video signal while synchronizingwith the sound processing device is considered. However, whencommunication capacity of the network 3180 is enough, the videoprocessing device may be arranged in the video matching system 3110.

[Other Exemplary Embodiments]

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention are mentioned indetail as above, a system or a device which combined the separatecharacteristics included in the respective exemplary embodiments in anyway is also included in the category of the present invention.

Also, the present invention may be applied to a system including aplurality of equipment or may be applied to a device of stand-alone.Further, the present invention is applicable in case the control programwhich realizes the functions of the exemplary embodiment is supplied tothe system or the device directly or remotely.

Accordingly, the control program installed in a computer in order torealize the functions of the present invention by the computer, a mediumwhich stores the control program, or a WWW (World Wide Web) server whichmakes the control program to be downloaded is also included in thecategory of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been explained with reference to theexemplary embodiments as above, the present invention is not limited tothe exemplary embodiments mentioned above. Various changes which aperson skilled in the art can understand within the scope of the presentinvention can be performed in the composition of the present inventionand details.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2011-155541 filed on Jul. 14, 2011 and the disclosure thereof isincorporated herein in its entirety.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A sound processing device comprising: atime-frequency analysis unit which generates a time-frequency plane froma sound signal through time-frequency analysis; a region characteristicamount extraction unit which, for a plurality of partial region pairswhich is defined on the time-frequency plane and of which at leasteither of shapes of two partial regions or positions of the two partialregions differ from one another, extracts a region characteristic amountfrom each partial region; a sound identifier generation unit whichgenerates a sound identifier using a difference value of the regioncharacteristic amounts extracted from each partial region, wherein thesound identifier generation unit comprises a memory unit which memorizesa comparison and a quantization method by correlating them to thepartial region pair, and performs comparison and quantization by thecomparison and the quantization method corresponding to the partialregion pair; and a processor configured to perform at least one functionof at least one of the time-frequency analysis unit, the regioncharacteristic amount extraction unit, and the sound identifiergeneration unit.
 2. The sound processing device according to claim 1,wherein the sound identifier generation unit includes an elementgeneration unit which generates a sound identifier element by using theregion characteristic amounts which are extracted from two partialregions included in the partial region pair, and generates the soundidentifier which is a set of the sound identifier elements generated bythe element generation unit, the set being generated by combining thesound identifier elements by a number of the plurality of partial regionpairs.
 3. The sound processing device according to claim 2, wherein theelement generation unit quantizes a difference value of the regioncharacteristic amounts extracted by the region characteristic amountextraction unit, and generates the sound identifier element.
 4. Thesound processing device according to claim 3, wherein the quantizationis quantization into three values by a predetermined quantizationboundary.
 5. The sound processing device according to claim 4, whereinthe element generation unit generates a first quantized value when thedifference value of the region characteristic amounts extracted by theregion characteristic amount extraction unit is between a plusquantization boundary and a minus quantization boundary, generates asecond quantized value when it is larger than the plus quantizationboundary, and generates a third quantized value when it is smaller thanthe minus quantization boundary.
 6. The sound processing deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the element generation unit comprises asecond quantization boundary decision unit which decides thequantization boundary so that a proportion of the partial region pairswhich becomes the first quantized value, the second quantized value, andthe third quantized value may become even.
 7. The sound processingdevice according to claim 4, wherein the element generation unitcomprises a first quantization boundary decision unit which decides thequantization boundary on the basis of a distribution of the differencevalues of the region characteristic amounts extracted by the regioncharacteristic amount extraction unit.
 8. The sound processing deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the element generation unit comprises athird quantization boundary decision unit which sorts absolute values ofthe difference values of the region characteristic amounts extracted bythe region characteristic amount extraction unit, and decides a value ata position of a prescribed proportion from a highest rank or a lowestrank as the quantization boundary.
 9. A sound processing systemcomprising: the sound processing device according to claim 1 and a soundmatching device which performs matching of a sound by using the soundidentifier generated by the sound processing device.
 10. A soundprocessing system comprising: the sound processing device according toclaim 1, and a sound identification device which identifies a sound byusing the sound identifier generated by the sound processing device.